On Copper Plating:
It seems a thin layer is way easier than Electro-plating!
This video was my 1st: "Wait WHAT!??" moment:
They have another: LOL!
Some googling later, here's how it's done:
What I like about this, besides the simplicity, is that it seems to form the thin "porous" layer alluded to in the white paper.
A thick shiny layer of copper, with it's dissimilar coefficient of expansion is likely to flake off of rapidly heating and cooling heads and valves and get itself wedged between piston, rings and sleeve.
I know what you're thinking:
A thin layer like this wont last. It will oxidize off in a matter of minutes.
NOT!!!
See from 3min 27 seconds here:
https://youtu.be/7M5x2OFYP-k?t=207
Ah-ha!!!
Now, while there are a good number of other gasses in a combustion chamber during the power stroke, THAT explains a lot as to why this works/worked so well in the paper doesn't it!!
NB that red hot copper + super heated steam = H2
(It's discovering this kind of thing that gives me a semi!
)